Jamie Collins and Shelby Kunz help bag and distribute goods in the UCI Health commissary.
With clinicians and staff putting in extra hours during the COVID-19 response, UCI Health leadership established a commissary program to help frontline employees with basic food and household supply needs. Employees can sign up for an open time to come and shop at the commissary, while volunteers work to collect and bag the commissary goods they need.
The commissary came to fruition because of an idea by UCI Health CEO Chad Lefteris.
"It was at the very beginning of this crisis, and it was very hard for everyone to get their basic needs met," said Michelle Quint, executive director of UCI Health Human Resources. "Front line staff that work 12 hour shifts back-to-back days can't stand in line at the grocery store like most people do. It's just an added stressor during this difficult time."
Amanda Leung, a first year medical student, and Jamie Glenn Collins, a third year medical student help lead the volunteer effort for the commissary. They have assisted in the day to day operations of the commissary by helping open the center each day and coordinating the student volunteers.
"The medical students have been such a great help during this time, and very willing to step in and help," said Quint.
UCI Leadership was also able to secure food donations from Smart and Final, Pepsi Co. and other community partners. UCI culinary and dietary services had food product as well to contribute to the effort due to decreased visitors onsite.
"We work and prepare the food and supplies that are given - splitting big bulk packages into smaller single family portions and transporting food from wherever it is stored to the commissary when it needs restocking, said Ashley Hope, one of the volunteers and also a first year medical student at UCI. "Everyone who has come by is so grateful and appreciative."
Food items available are:
- Toilet paper
- vegetable and olive oil
- canned tuna
- rice
- beans - dehydrated refried, garbanzo, lentil
- pasta, macaroni, marinara sauce
- cereal - Honey bunches of Oats, Golden Grahams, Kellogg's bran flakes
- granola bars - Nature Valley varieties, Quaker Chewy bars, Kashi bars, Special K bars
- peanut butter, jam
- bread (from a local bakery!)
- carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes
- apples, oranges
- bottled water, varieties of Pepsi, Bubbly, Mountain Dew, Brisk
Employees can also submit a list of food or household items they are in need of, and volunteers will search through supplies and bag up anything that is available for staff to quickly pick up.
"I really appreciate that UCI set up this commissary. I think it shows that they really care about the people who work here and want to support them for playing such an important role in this time," said Hope. "I love that they were willing to devote resources to it so I'm happy to help in any way that I can."